On any given day, shoppers at Local Market in South Shore would have available a wide selection of brand name eggs in the dairy section.
On Tuesday, February 11, five shelves were nearly empty when a customer named Debbie shopped for eggs.
After a few minutes of searching, Debbie, who chose not to give her last name, balked at the $22.49 price for a carton of 30 eggs. She found one dozen eggs from Milo’s Poultry Farms for just $5.99 and put them in her shopping cart.
“I was shocked when I saw a carton of eggs for over $22,” she said. “Unbelievable. Just unbelievable.”
Debbie is one of many Chicago residents scrambling to find affordable eggs. Due to the bird flu epidemic, egg costs and demand have soared nationwide.
Chicago is not the only market experiencing an egg shortage. Many American food markets are running short on eggs, and the situation may not improve for months.
According to a CNN report, the highly contagious avian influenza has wreaked havoc on the egg market. The report noted that in November and December alone, 17.2 million egg-laying hens died due to the virus. That’s nearly half of all birds killed by the virus in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The report said it will take months to replace those flocks.
“We can’t begin fixing it the next day. It is really a six-to-nine-month process. It’s causing some shortages in certain markets that are intermittent and localized,” said Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board.
The bottom line? Fewer egg-laying hens mean fewer eggs, more empty store shelves, and higher prices.
While millions of chickens have been killed to prevent the spread of the disease, health officials say there are no documented cases of bird flu spreading from human to human.
With the smaller supply and high demand, the price of eggs has more than doubled in the past year, hitting both consumers and businesses hard.
According to Federal Reserve Economic Data, the cost of a dozen eggs skyrocketed from $2.51 in December 2023 to $4.15 within a year.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the price of eggs is expected to rise another 20 percent this year.
Restaurants are adding egg surcharges to customers’ bills to cope with the rising costs. On February 3, Waffle House restaurants across the country added a 50-cent surcharge for every egg customers order with their meal.
For struggling families in Chicago’s Black neighborhoods, the rising cost of eggs adds more strain to an already tight budget. Along with bread and butter, eggs have historically been viewed as a necessity on the grocery list. Eggs are a good source of protein and are often eaten for breakfast. They are also used to make dishes for dinner and desserts. However, with the rising cost of eggs, families may find it cheaper to limit their consumption.
To assist families in finding eggs at affordable prices, a Crusader journalist visited nine stores in various Black neighborhoods. As shoppers were busy stocking up for two winter storms expected to hit Chicago this week, the Crusader found most empty shelves were in the egg and dairy section. Shoppers were able to purchase the more expensive brand-name eggs that were left.
At the Jewel-Osco Supermarket in the Lake Meadows Shopping Plaza in Bronzeville, about five cartons of one dozen eggs remained. There were plenty of cartons of 18 eggs available for $11.99.
Several miles away, Mariano’s Supermarket had numerous empty shelves. A sign said customers were limited to buying just two packages because of the supply shortage. What was left were cartons of 12 jumbo eggs for $8.49.
One customer, who wanted to be identified as Franklin, grabbed one package after looking at the few brand names left.
“It’s something I’m going to buy anyway. It doesn’t bother me,” Franklin said. “I’m just trying to cut back on buying things I don’t use often, but eggs are essential.”
At the Jewel Osco Supermarket at 95th and Stony Island, a senior couple spent several minutes examining the depleted supply of eggs. Nearly all the shelves were empty, but eggs sold for $5.99 a dozen were on sale. Seeking an even better bargain, the couple grabbed two cartons of 18 eggs that were on sale for $10.99.
At the Walgreens at 67th and Stony Island, one dozen eggs cost $8.50.
The Crusader did find other supermarkets that sold cartons of eggs at lower prices.
At Aldi’s on 67th and Cottage Grove, a cart contained eggs stacked six feet high. They were sold for $5.46 a dozen, and customers were limited to two per visit.
At the Save A Lot supermarket in Englewood, rows of cartons of eggs filled the shelves. At $5.49 per dozen, customers could buy as many cartons as they liked.
The Crusader found the cheapest price for a dozen eggs at the Target store at 1940 W 33rd St in the McKinley Park neighborhood: $4.49. A carton of 18 eggs was priced at just $6.59.
